Transcriptional regulation of trophoblast cell fate

Elf5 is a transcription factor with pivotal roles in the trophoblast compartment where it reinforces a trophoblast stem cell (TSC)-specific transcriptional circuit. However, Elf5 is also present in differentiating trophoblast cells that have ceased to express other TSC genes such as Cdx2 and Eomes. In the current study we aimed to elucidate the context-dependent role of Elf5 at the interface between TSC self-renewal and onset of differentiation. We demonstrate that precise levels of Elf5 are critical for normal expansion of the TSC compartment and embryonic survival, as Elf5 overexpression triggers precocious trophoblast differentiation. Through integration of protein interactome, transcriptome and genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation data we reveal that this abundance-dependent function is mediated through a shift in preferred Elf5 binding partners; in TSCs, Elf5 interaction with Eomes recruits Tfap2c to triply occupied sites at TSC-specific genes driving their expression. By contrast, the Elf5 and Tfap2c interaction becomes predominant as their protein levels increase. This triggers binding to double and single occupancy sites that harbour the cognate Tfap2c motif, causing activation of the associated differentiation-promoting genes. These data place Elf5 at the centre of a stoichiometry-sensitive transcriptional network where it acts as molecular switch governing the balance between TSC proliferation and differentiation.